A Coach in War and Peace: Naismith’s YMCA Mission in France, 1917–1919

In 1919, James Naismith returned to the United States after nearly two years in France with the YMCA during and after World War I. His bilingual immigration papers document his service as an overseas secretary, organizing sports, promoting health, and offering spiritual support to American troops. Stationed mainly in Paris, Naismith used athletics to boost morale and build character among soldiers. These preserved papers provide a rare glimpse into his life beyond basketball, showing how he carried his principles of physical and moral development into a world at war.